Greetings to you, our ACDA Eastern Region Friends and Colleagues!
Let me (re-) introduce myself: Penelope Cruz, your Eastern Region President for 2026-2028.
I am energized and motivated to go into a second term as your Eastern Region President. I want to capitalize on the work begun in my 2020-2022 term, much of it necessitated by and in response to the sea changes brought on by Covid-19 pandemic and the long-needed racial reckoning following the murder of George Floyd—work that was continued by Presidents Christopher Kiver and Amanda Hanzlik and their teams since then. As we face today’s societal challenges, we once again must examine what our role and responsibilities are as choral directors, particularly to those we make music with. I believe our best response is to DO OUR WORK with joy, thoughtfulness, and skill, thus providing a safe (though not always comfortable) place of music-making where all can actualize their best selves to find personal expression and satisfaction. Let us aim to strengthen our practice so that we all find that sense of confidence, purpose, and ease that makes our hard work result in joy and pride for all.
I am excited to work alongside an Executive Board, Engagement & Outreach Team, Repertoire & Resource Team, and Conference Committee, populated by exemplary practitioners and tremendous human beings ready to serve and be a voice for all of us. We are ready to hear from you about your hopes and needs and to anticipate and provide that which you didn’t even know you needed!
